For these 'trails down under' I'm actually working backwards. I usually start with the book I read first that launched me on a subject or author, but in this case a book I was reading made me think back on other Aussie books I'd read.

Most recently it's been the Kerry Greenwood 'Phryne Fisher' books. Born poor, Phryne and her family come into money when enough men are killed in the War that her father is recognized as the next in line of a wealthy English family. A woman of independent thinking, she learns to fly, and shoot (and otherwise defend herself). She returns to Australia and works as a private investigator. There are more than a dozen books in the series, starting with Cocaine Blues. Great fun!

(And don't forget Greenwood's other series, about Corinna Chapman mentioned in an earlier blog).

A recommendation from a Canadian friend took me to Arthur Upfield and Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, a half-caste Aborigine (to use the lingo of the era), working in Australia in the 1930's. 'Bony' was an amazing tracker and a man with incredible patience (he once waited several years until a drought exposed a plane 'hidden' in a lake). These books can be hard to find, so start with any that you find. A few of the many titles are: The Sands of Windee, An Author Bites the Dust, and Death of a Lake.

The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough was a best seller, a multi-generational sweeping sage, filled with romance, passion, betrayal (all those necessary things). I remember the descriptions of the plantation and the outback being quite good. Needless to say, was made into a mini-series that held the nation's attention when it aired.

The movie "The Man From Snowy River" started out as a 'little' movie and ended up being a huge hit. I've seen it so many times I've lost count! It is based on a bush ballad of the same name by Banjo Paterson, who also wrote "Waltzing Matilda", one of Australia’s most popular songs. The movie inspired me to look for a book of Paterson's poetry and I found The Collected Verse of A.B. Paterson It includes a poem of another character in the movie 'Clancy of the Overflow' (and, of course, 'Waltzing Matilda'). Listen carefully to the music for the movie, by Bruce Rowland, in addition to the wonderful main themes you'll hear phrases from 'Waltzing Matilda' ...!

My first introduction to Australia came from two books by Elyne Mitchell: The Silver Brumby, and The Snow Filly. From them I learned that a brumby was a wild horse, that Thowra (the silver brumby) meant wind, and Kunama (the snow filly) meant snow. The horses are able to carry on detailed conversations with each other, but other than than act very horse like (which I liked, no animals in human clothing for me!) For a while I thought I'd try and track down copies to read again, but late came to the conclusion I'd rather keep the memories of two wonderful reads.

Reading Hermit With Dog